Greetings!
Welcome to the Academic Affairs newsletter. Browse updates and announcements, connect to tips and resources, and check out stories from around campus.
Message from EVC Simmons
Dear Colleagues,

As we approach the second anniversary of the pandemic on our campus, it is more and more evident that communication and compassion have been essential for keeping UC San Diego unified and moving forward. This an apt time to reflect on how we can further nurture a culture of compassion and support on our campus.  
 
We might start with some introspection: Are we treating others as respectfully as they would hope to be treated? Are we striving to listen to others even when we do not agree? Are we trying to bear in mind that others are as exhausted and bewildered by the unending crisis as we are? Approaching our daily interactions with others with these ideas in mind might lead us toward a more compassionate affect.

When we, inevitably, have an occasional lapse of judgement, we can hold ourselves accountable: make our apologies, face the consequences, and strive to do better in future. And when others have a lapse of judgment, we can make space for them to redress the situation. No one gets it right all the time, even under less stressful conditions than the present.  

We are a campus community of amazing individuals. Together, we can accomplish great things. But we can only truly be together if we consistently resolve and strive to treat one another well. 
 
Let us use our dedication to learning as a reminder to educate ourselves about our responsibilities towards one another. Our dedication to evidence-based scholarship as a reminder to focus on truth and justice in communication with and about each other. And our dedication to service as a reminder to orient ourselves towards assisting our whole community to flourish.

Best regards,

Elizabeth H. Simmons
Inaugural Forum Showcases Collective Impact Approach

Last week, the Executive Vice Chancellor hosted an inaugural Future of Academic Affairs Forum in which she shared her vision for Academic Affairs at UC San Diego using the Collective Impact, or CI, framework to erase opportunity gaps for students, staff and faculty.

Following an introduction to the Collective Impact approach, colleagues from many different areas delivered lightning talks where they shared how they are employing CI to collaborate with others across campus to make their work more impactful overall.

Click here see the slide deck from the forum, or to read more about Collective Impact overall, you can also visit the EVC's web page on Collective Impact.
Updates Related to Deadline for Comments Systemwide Policy Review for Draft Revised APM-025 and APM-671 Extended

The University is currently inviting comments on proposed revisions to Academic Personnel Manual (APM) Section 025, Conflict of Commitment and Outside Activities of faculty Members (APM – 025) and Section 671, Conflict of Commitment and Outside Activities of Health Sciences Compensation Plan Participates (APM – 671).

Please note the local UC San Diego comment submission deadline has been extended from Jan. 21, 2022 to Feb. 22, 2022.

  • Proposed revisions can be found on UC San Diego’s website by clicking here.
  • Proposed revisions can be found on University of California’s website by clicking here.
  • Comments in response to the proposed policy revisions should be submitted to policy@ucsd.edu no later than Feb. 22, 2022.
Register to Participate in Hybrid Triton Days 2022

Triton Days offer an opportunity for the campus community to welcome newly admitted first-year and transfer students to the Triton family. This year’s Triton Days will be in a hybrid format, with multiple days of virtual activities culminating with an in-person, celebratory experience. Campus partnership and participation is essential to ensure guests are welcomed, informed, and engaged.

  • Monday, March 28 - Thursday, March 31: Virtual programming for first-year admitted students 
  • Saturday, April 2, 2022: In-person celebratory experience for first-year admitted students
  • Monday, May 9 - Thursday, May 12: Virtual programming for transfer admitted students
  • Saturday, May 14, 2022: In-person celebratory experience for transfer admitted students 

Please register to participate in programming for Triton Days. Registration for both first-year and transfer admitted student programming closes on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Additionally, many volunteers are needed to make Triton Days a great success. Sign up to volunteer online.
Required for All: Test on the Day You Return to Campus

All employees and students, regardless of vaccination status, are required to complete a PCR test on the day of their return to campus (unless they have been COVID-19 positive within the last 90 days). Tests are available on campus via self-administered test kit vending machines or by appointment at the Price Center clinic. Employees conducting their first-ever COVID-19 test must make an appointment at the Price Center clinic or a drive thru testing site. You do not need to wait for a result before arriving on campus. See all COVID-19 testing options.
Get COVID Booster by Jan. 31

All faculty, staff and students who are now eligible to receive their booster should do so no later than Jan. 31 to meet the UC vaccination mandate. For those who are not yet eligible, you must receive a booster within 30 days of becoming eligible (or 15 days for health care employees). If you are eligible but were recently COVID-19 positive, you will have up to 90 days to receive your booster. Currently approved religious and medical exemptions extend to boosters. Click here to submit documentation if you received your booster outside of UC San Diego Health.
Creating a Culture of Care: Supporting Students in Distress

Case Management Services will again be facilitating upcoming trainings for faculty and staff to help them recognize and support students in distress. This is excellent training for any UC San Diego staff or faculty member that has a high level of interactions with students. Topics that will be covered include: 

  • How to recognize a student in distress
  • How to provide support to a student in distress
  • How to connect a student in distress with support systems
  • Being prepared to offer the best resource to support students in distress

To register for a training, visit the Learning Center page for the course.
Attend the Triton Leaders Conference, Feb. 4-5

Join your colleagues and UC San Diego alumni at this year’s Triton Leaders Conference titled Allyship: Achieving Inclusive Excellence. In its fifth year, the conference brings together the greater UC San Diego community to grow together, explore campus priorities and grow as a community. This year’s keynote speaker is anti-racist writer, educator and commentator Tim Wise. For more information, or to register, visit the conference web page.
Learn About Job Classification and Career Movement
Interested in learning more about career mobility at UC San Diego, including how jobs are classified? Take the new Job Classification & Career Movement course, created specifically to support professional development for staff and shine a spotlight on the many opportunities available on our campus. Learn more and register for this self-paced course online. 
Jim Rawlins Appointed New AVC for Enrollment Management

Jim Rawlins is our new Associate Vice Chancellor, Enrollment Management (AVC-EM). Rawlins is joining UC San Diego from his most recent position at the University of Oregon where he served as the Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and the Director of the Office of Admissions.

AVC Rawlins will be responsible for devising and implementing a strategic and integrated approach to enrollment management for UC San Diego. He looks forward to working closely with campus constituents and leadership to build new partnerships and establishing critical links with each academic school or division and their respective faculty and administrators. Feel free to reach out to him at jrawlins@ucsd.edu to get a conversation started.

Betty Huff who has served as the Interim AVC-EM since August 2021 will remain on campus for a while to support AVC Rawlins as he transitions to UC San Diego and his new role.
Renovations Underway at Geisel Library

The UC San Diego Library recently embarked on a six-month-long renovation of Geisel Library’s 2nd (main) Floor. This project is creating new spaces for users including new meeting, study and collaboration spaces on the Library’s most heavily-used floor. Throughout construction, Geisel will remain open with no loss of study seats, group study rooms or computers offered throughout the building. Alternate entry/exit points are available to the left and right of the main entrance. Signs are posted within the building to guide users to specific areas and points of service. Learn more about the project and read tips for navigating the change.
Inclusive Excellence Awardees Announced

Congratulations to the 2021 Inclusive Excellence Awards Recipients who make our community stronger through their leadership and dedication to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion at UC San Diego. The following recipients will be honored in a virtual ceremony on Tuesday, Feb. 15 from 2 – 3 p.m. All university community members are invited to attend the ceremony. Click here to register for the event. If you have any questions, contact the Office of Equal Opportunity Services in Human Resources.  

Executive Vice Chancellor and Vice Chancellor Area Recipients
  • Academic Affairs: Franklin Garrett 
  • Advancement: Alumni, Career, Annual Giving, Parent, Pipeline Development & International (ACAGPDI)
  • Chancellor’s Office: Ashley C. Cooper 
  • Chief Financial Officer: Integrated Procedure-to-Pay Solutions & Student Financial Solutions (IPPS & SFS)
  • Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Glynda Jones Davis 
  • Health Sciences: Dominic Cooper 
  • Marine Sciences: Scripps Institution of Oceanography Community Engagement Fellows
  • Research: Research Affairs Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee 
  • Resource Management and Planning: RMP Inclusion Diversity Equity Action (IDEA) Group 
  • Student Affairs: Chancellor’s Associates Scholars Program (CASP) 
  • UC San Diego Health: Health Human Resources, Diversity and Inclusion Committee

University-wide Recipients
  • Faculty Recipient: Dr. Georgia Robins Sadler 
  • Staff Recipient: Katherine Arias Garcia 
  • Student Recipient: Marina Zaher Nakhla
  • Department/Organizational Unit Recipient: Post Baccalaureate Premedical Program, UCSD Extension
Six UC San Diego Experts Elected AAAS Fellows in 2021

Six researchers and leaders at the University of California San Diego have been named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the largest general science organization in the world and publisher of the journal...

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